[From MSO 4 News 2]

The second day of the Mind Sports Olympiad featured a gruelling event of pure brain power. No boards, no pieces, no stones, no cards, just finely tuned grey matter and a dash of strong nerves. The British Quiz Championship is the first ever national title event for one of the country's fastest growing pastimes. 

Trevor Montague, the arbiter and question setter, said that he had never seen so many quiz experts in one venue. He was hardly exaggerating; the favourite, Kevin Ashman, is the Mastermind record holder for the most points in a single programme, as well having held the Brain of Britain and Top Brain titles. About a dozen of the other contestants also held various titles from these events and other competitions, and among those eliminated in the tough preliminary heat was the current Brain of Mensa.

Despite the strong field, the four who emerged were what venerable compere Magnus Magnusson could call the expected finalists; Kevin Ashman, Daphne Fowler, Geoff Thomas and Jim Eccleston. This quartet faced off in classic format, with fingers on buzzers, Magnus quizzing, and Trevor passing judgement on close calls.

As so often, a cerebral contest makes fascinating viewing. When Geoff momentarily confuses Austin Powers and Wayne's World, his head sinks to the table in anguish. Daphne hits the target with a guess that is obviously slightly more wild than educated and manages to do a gleeful little victory dance with just her head. At the head of the table, the imperious Ashman forges slightly ahead, and manages to stay there, despite sudden inspired bursts from Fowler and Thomas.

Magnus decides to guarantee smooth free-for-all rounds by penalising players if they interrupt a reading and get a question wrong. When Trevor points out that this is unusual, Magnus declares 'I'm changing the rules!' and everyone continues in good humour. And Kevin Ashman emerges victorious.

Afterwards, a satisfied Daphne Fowler (shared silver medal) confesses that she never dreamed of winning. 'Nobody ever beats Kevin!' This may seem a surprising confession from someone with her track record, but having come a good second to Ashman many times, she says, 'I just admire the man.'

Kevin Ashman is more modest about his achievements. Although it apparently isn't exactly easy for him to remember, he does come up with a Winner Takes All where he got nowhere, and was beaten by one of those eliminated in today's preliminary written test. His MSO victory didn't come easy, though he led from the start. 'I never expect to win. I suppose I know that the laws of probability mean I will do quite well, but it's best not to be too confident - that leads to disaster.'

Kevin, a civil servant, says that nowadays (he has been a serious quiz contestant for twelve years) he concentrates on mind training rather than preparing. 'A lot of the studying has stuck, and what doesn't stick tends to be in subjects where I don't have an intrinsic interest. A few days of glancing at reference books is enough, it gives me the psychological boost of feeling I have done something.'

Test your Wits 

Have a crack at some of the questions from the British Quiz Championship:

Q: Leonora is being serenaded by Manrico, regarded as a rival by the Count who is in love with her. This is a synopsis of which opera?
A: Il Trovatore

Q: Which Austrian composer's last words were reported to have been 'Cheer up, children. I'm all right'?
A: Franz Joseph Haydn

Q: On what part of the body would one wear a billycock, biggin or a casque?
A: On the head (the first two are hats and a casque is a helmet).

Q: In the Morse Code system which letter of the alphabet is represented by two dashes and followed by two dots?
A: Z

Q: Author Jeffrey Archer, US President William Taft and US Military Commander Tasker Bliss all share what same middle name?
A: Howard